Yesterday, the Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed that a total of 28 BvS10 armored vehicles, also known as Bandvagn Vikings, are on their way to Ukraine to join its armed forces. These vehicles, previously used by the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, are notable for their ability to transport troops or casualties across extreme terrains. Additionally, they can function as command vehicles or provide mobile fire support.
Thanks to their connected steering system and their structure with a front and rear carriage, the Viking can easily disembark from a boat onto the beach. The vehicle is armored, providing extra protection against enemy fire, and is capable of operating in a wide range of weather conditions.
This transfer follows a decision made in 2021, when it was announced that the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps would acquire 179 small all-terrain patrol vehicles and 124 new tracked vehicles to replace the current BV206D, Viking, and Land Rover vehicles.
The project, known as Littoral All-Terrain Mobility Patrol Vehicles (FLATM PV), aims to provide future-proof all-terrain and snow mobility for light amphibious units. These operations will be conducted in coastal areas, arctic conditions, and extremely challenging terrains.
The project will feature one type of vehicle in four variants: the basic variant, a command version, a reconnaissance version, and a fourth intended for field repairs. The goal is for the variants to be as similar as possible to the basic version. The first vehicles are expected to arrive in 2025.
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